News that Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, will be co-leading a new “Department of Government Efficiency” with President-elect Donald Trump is raising concerns. While both are big names in their fields, their past actions make many wonder if this partnership will help the government or only cause problems.
Trump has a long history of making big promises that don’t go as planned. For example, in 2017, he created a commission to investigate voter fraud, claiming millions of illegal votes were cast in 2016. After months of work, the commission found no evidence and was shut down, wasting taxpayer money. Now, Trump’s teaming up with Musk to “improve” government efficiency, but many worry this could be another empty promise. Trump’s administration has often faced criticism for mismanagement, and adding Musk to the mix may not solve that.
Musk himself is a successful businessman, but his companies have faced serious issues. Tesla has been accused of worker mistreatment and has had several safety concerns. SpaceX, his space exploration company, has also dealt with safety issues, including rocket failures. These examples show that Musk’s businesses are not always smooth or efficient. So, can Musk really make the government run better when his own companies struggle?
Musk has been spending almost every day at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Florida resort, since Election Day, and his private jet has been spotted nearby multiple times. His constant presence is raising eyebrows among Trump’s close advisors, who say Musk is “overstepping” his role. Some even jokingly refer to him as the “co-president.” One advisor said, “He’s behaving as if he’s a co-president and making sure everyone knows it.” Musk’s involvement has reportedly become too much, with him joining high-level calls and even a conversation between Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Stay up-to-date with the latest news!
Subscribe and start recieving our daily emails.
Surprisingly, Musk and Trump haven’t always been on good terms. Just last year, Musk said Trump should “sail into the sunset,” suggesting he should retire from politics. Trump, in response, said Musk would be “worthless” without the government subsidies that helped his businesses grow. Despite this rocky past, Musk has recently shown strong support for Trump, with his super PAC spending over $150 million to help Trump and other Republicans in the election. Musk even held rallies and offered $1 million giveaways to encourage voter turnout.
Musk’s behavior is also bringing back memories of Steve Bannon, Trump’s former strategist. In 2017, Bannon also tried to push his own ideas aggressively, which led to conflicts with other advisors. His influence didn’t last long, and he left the White House soon after. Some advisors think Musk could be on a similar path if he doesn’t dial back his actions. As one advisor noted, Musk doesn’t understand a key rule in Trump’s world: “keeping a low profile.”
Historically, close relationships between business leaders and political power can be concerning. For instance, during the George W. Bush administration, Vice President Dick Cheney had a close link with his former company, Halliburton, which received several government contracts during the Iraq War. This raised questions about conflicts of interest, and many felt it was wrong for a company with ties to the vice president to profit from war. Musk’s connection with Trump now raises similar worries. When a business leader gains influence in government, there’s a risk they may act in ways that benefit themselves more than the public.
Tesla’s stock has risen over 15% since Election Day, boosting Musk’s wealth. While some say this is just market behavior, others feel uneasy about Musk profiting while getting closer to political power. His involvement in Trump’s administration might seem like an effort to bring business sense to government, but such relationships can easily lead to biased decisions that benefit the few at the expense of the many.
Many on social media believe Musk’s approach might backfire, as shown by the reactions below.
It’s just a matter of time. Tick Tock!
— RebelwoApplause (@RebelwApplause) November 13, 2024
I give him 90 days.
— @allieB💙🇺🇸 (@basjqq) November 13, 2024
Oh their fall out might happen much quicker than most people thought
— Bingobongo Capital (@bingobongcap) November 13, 2024
History shows that alliances like these often end in conflict. Time will tell if Musk’s influence will help or harm Trump’s second term.
Featured image via Political Tribune Gallery
